FOOTBALL IN BRIEF

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<strong>Toffees reject &pound;18m Lescott bid</strong><br />EVERTON have rejected an improved &pound;18m offer from Manchester City for defender Joleon Lescott.<br /><br />The Goodison Park club confirmed City had upped their initial &pound;15m bid for the England defender, but Toffees boss David Moyes has said no player will leave the club without his approval.<br /><br />City boss Mark Hughes wants Lescott to link up with Kolo Toure, who was formally unveiled at Eastlands yesterday after completing a &pound;14m move from Arsenal. But he was remaining tight-lipped yesterday on suggestions he was planning a third bid for Lescott.<br /><br /><strong>Elano completes Turkey move</strong><br />BRAZIL international Elano has escaped the Manchester City revolution and signed for Turkish side Galatasaray.<br /><br />Elano, 28, scored 18 goals in 80 games for City since signing in an &pound;8m move from Shakhtar Donestk in 2007, but found himself on the fringes of the first team under boss Mark Hughes.<br /><br /><strong>Alonso slaps in transfer request</strong><br />REAL MADRID target Xabi Alonso has reportedly handed in a transfer request at Liverpool.<br /><br />The Spaniard is keen to return to his homeland to link up with big-spending Real, who are now preparing to finalise their public pursuit of the 27-year-old Anfield favourite with a &pound;25m bid.